Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

Peter but warming himself at Caiaphas fire, was overcome by a silly Damsel to do that which he never thought, even to forswear his Lord God: therefore Daniel would not eat of the kings meat, least he should be tempted to the kings will, showing us that there is no way to escape sin, but to avoid occasion. Therefore David prayeth, Turn away mine eyes from vanity: as though his eyes would draw his heart as the bait tilleth on the hook. Noah thought to drink, he thought not to be drunk: but as he which cometh to the field to sound the trumpet is slain as soon as he which cometh to fight: so the same wine distempereth Noah which hath distempered so many since. Where he thought to take his reward, and taste the fruit of his own hands, God set an everlasting blot upon him, which sticks fast till this day, like a bar in his arms, so long as the name of Noah is spoken of, that we cannot read of his virtue but we must read of his sin, whereby every man is warned to receive the gifts of God ⟨image 29⟩reverently, to use them soberly, and to sanctify himself, before he reach forth his hand unto them, that they may comfort and profit us, with that secret blessing which God hath hid in them, or else every thing, the best gifts of God may hurt us: as the pleasant wine stained and confounded the great Patriarch, when he delighted too much in it, which he might have drunk as Christ did at his last Supper, and this disgrace had never been written in his story, but God would have a fearful example like the pillar of salt, to stand before those beasts, whose only strife is to make trial, who can quaff deepest and show all their valiantness in wine.

Peter but vvarming himselfe at Cayphas fire, vvas ouercome by a silly Damsel to do that which he neuer thought, euen to forsweare his Lord God: therefore Daniell woulde not eate of the kinges meate, least hee should bee tempted to the kinges will, shewing vs that there is no way to escape sinne, but to auoide occasion. Therefore Dauid prayeth, Turne away mine eies from vanity: as though his eies would drawe his heart as the baite tilleth on the hooke. Noah thought to drinke, hee thought not to be drunke: but as hee vvhich commeth to the field to sounde the trumpet is slaine as soone as he vvhich commeth to fight: so the same vvine distempereth Noah vvhich hath distempered so manie since. Where hee thought to take his rewarde, and taste the fruite of his owne handes, God set an euerlasting blot vpon him, vvhich stickes fast till this daie, like a barre in his armes, so long as the name of Noah is spoken of, that vvee cannot reade of his vertue but wee must reade of his sinne, vvhereby euery man is vvarned to receiue the gifts of God